Band attachment for uniform caps



March 24, 1959 B. ElN El 2,878,480

BAND ATTACHMENT FOR UNIFORM CAPS Filed March 27, 1958 ,1

BAND ATTACHMENT FOR UNIFORM CAPS Bernard Weinstein, Waban, Mass., assignor to Bancroft Cap Company, Framingham, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 27, 1956, Serial No. 574,155

2 Claims. (Cl. 2-179) This invention relates to uniform caps and especially to caps of the type having a relatively stiff headband whichis intended to be covered by a decorative band of braid or other material.

Many branches of the armed services, for example, employ the same basic style and color of cap, and attach outer bands of different colors to distinguish each branch. The cap and band are issued separately. This involves considerable labor and the service man usually has to take the cap to a tailor to have the band attached. The cap is thus not ready for immediate wear when issued. Furthermore, the band cannot be easily changed, once it is sewn on, in the event that the wearer is transferred or the particular branch of the service changes its distinguishing insignia. The object of this invention is to provide a device by means of which a band can be applied to a uniform cap and secured in place quickly, so that the cap is immediately ready for wear, and which eliminates the need of employing a skilled tailor. Other objects are to provide an attaching device which facilitates neat and accurate placement of the band, and which permits the band to be changed readily at any time.

The device consists, in general, of a metal clamp having one leg which is attached permanently to the headband of the cap and a pair of outstanding legs which can be bent in fiat against the attached leg. The outstanding legs are separated by a slot and carry barbs for engaging the end portions of the outer band. The end portions of the decorative band are passed through the slot and doubled back around the outstanding legs. The outstanding legs are then bent fiat against the leg which is attached to the headband.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a cap having an outer band installed by means of the device;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear view of the cap turned upside down, showing the clamping device before the decorative band is applied;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear view of the cap showing the decorative band in the process of attachment;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view, somewhat reduced in size, showing the decorative band partly attached;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section through the rear portion of the headband in the region of the clamping device; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the clamping device.

The cap shown in Fig. l is constructed in the usual manner and has a stitf headband 10 to which a crown 11 and a visor 12 are attached. The clamping device generally indicated by the numeral 13 is centrally attached to the rear of the headband. This clamping device is generally U-shaped, and has a flat inner leg 14, and a :a. Patet O pair of outer legs 15 and 16 slanting somewhat outward from leg 14 and attached to the latter along the top. The device is preferably stamped as a single piece of metal. The outstanding legs 15 and 16 are separated by a can tral slot 17 and carry barbs 18 and 19. Leg 14 is provided with two holes 20 and is attached to the headband 10 by means of rivets 21 passing through these holes. The decorative outer band 22 is applied to the cap in the following manner:

Preferably the cap is held upside down and one end margin 22a of the decorative band is folded back around leg 16 so as to lie on the inside of the leg. Leg 16 is then bent in against leg 14 to clamp margin 22a in place. The band 22 is then carried around the cap and the other end margin 22b is inserted through the slot 17 and folded back under leg 15. Leg 15 is then pressed in tightly against leg 14. The barbs 18 and 19 penetrate the material of the margins of band 22 to hold the band securely in place. If the cap has studs or buttons 23 at the side, the decorative band may be provided with button holes to pass around these. If the buttons are of the screw-in type, they may be forced through the material of band 22, or a hole may be punched to accommodate the shanks. The decorative band can thus be very easily applied at the time the cap is issued by the service man himself, or anyone else, and is ready for immediate wear. The band can also be readily removed by loosening the legs 15 and 16 and unwrapping the ends 22:: and 22b from these legs. This facilitates removal of the decorative outer band for cleaning or replacement.

What is claimed is:

1. An outer band assembly for a uniform cap having a relatively stiff headband comprising a relatively rigid clamping member having an inner leg and a pair of spaced-apart outer legs attached to said inner leg, said inner leg being adapted to be permanently attached to said headband, and an outer band adapted to be disposed around said headband, said outer legs extending transversely with respect to said outer band, said outer band having end margins passing between said outer legs, and each end margin being folded back and clamped between one of the outer legs and the inner leg, said outer legs having inwardly projecting barbs penetrating said end margins, said outer legs being movable to release said barbs from said margins.

2. An outer band assembly for a uniform cap having a relatively stiff headband comprising a relatively rigid clamping member having an inner leg and a pair of spaced-apart outer legs attached to said inner leg; said inner leg being adapted to be permanently attached to said headband, and an outer band adapted to be disposed around said headband, said outer band having end margins passing between said outer legs, and each margin being folded back between one of said outer legs and said inner leg, said outer legs extending transversely with respect to said outer band and being bendable about an axis generally parallel to said outer band, toward said inner leg to clamp said margins against the inner leg and away from said inner leg to permit removal and insertion of said margins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 542,158 Grenthal et a1. -1 July 2, 1885 2,436,434 Josephs Feb. 24, 1948 2,579,558 Fine Dec. 25, 1951 

